Eugenia Maximova, shooting a project about Balkan cuisine; Dimitry Stefanov, researching the subject of emigration; Nikola Mikhov, documenting the life of workers at five-star hotels; and other Bulgarian photographers and their work in Bird in Flight’s feature, “Eastern Bloc.”
Dimitry’s project “Bulgarian” is devoted to the problem of mass departure of youth from Bulgaria. “The country is not able to offer them anything worthwhile,” the author said. “With these photos, I wanted to show that I feel for young people: love, hate, the desire to struggle and overcome.”
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Boriana began working on the project Freezing in the winter of 2012, when Bulgaria was covered in snow and temperatures fell below –20 °С. She documents the life of Bulgarians in the conditions of a natural cataclysm.
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“alt”: “boryana katsarova 5”
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“alt”: “boryana katsarova 6”
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“alt”: “boryana katsarova 9”
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The main theme of Denislav’s work are the life of towns and villages of Bulgaria, family relations, and links to the past. Currently, Denislav is working on a project about Bulgarian youth and a film about his favorite streets in his native city.
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“alt”: “Denislav Stoichev 3”
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“alt”: “Denislav Stoichev 7”
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“alt”: “Denislav Stoichev 8”
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“alt”: “Denislav Stoichev 9”
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“alt”: “Denislav Stoichev 10”
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Her project “Kitchen Stories from the Balkans” reveals the life of the Balkan people through the prism of their culinary traditions. “Cuisine reflects a person’s self-perception,” Yegenia said. “It’s the embodiment of the lifestyle of Balkans and society as a whole.” In February 2014, “Kitchen Stories from the Balkans” was published with Eugenia’s photos and accompanying texts by Kristiana Kozhol.
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“alt”: “Евгения Максимова 6”
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“alt”: “Eugenia Maximova 12”
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While working on the project “Victoria Palace,” Nikola was hired as the administrator of the night shift in the eponymous five-star hotel in Paris. His photos portray the entire hotel staff, from its cleaners to its owners. The author pays particular attention to issues of hierarchy in French society and the status of the artist in contemporary realities.
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“text”: “Philippe Schmitt – Owner and Chairman, France”
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“text”: “Michael Erwin – Director of Sales, USA”
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 3”,
“text”: “Philippe Venet – Manager, France”
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 4”,
“text”: “Nicolas – Receptionist, France”
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 5”,
“text”: “David – Bartender, Hong Kong”
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 6”,
“text”: “Dinesh – Doorman, Sri Lanka”
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 7”,
“text”: “Jean – Bellboy, Togo”
},
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 8”,
“text”: “Maggie – Housekeeper, Reunion Island”
},
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/mihov_09.jpg”,
“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 9”,
“text”: “Tina – Chambermaid, DR Congo”
},
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/mihov_10.jpg”,
“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 10”,
“text”: “Carinne – Chambermaid, DR Congo”
},
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/mihov_11.jpg”,
“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 11”,
“text”: “Marie Laguerre – Cleaning lady, Haiti”
},
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/mihov_12.jpg”,
“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 12”,
“text”: “Silly – Valet, Mauritania”
},
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“alt”: “Nikola Mihov 13”,
“text”: “Marie-Jose – Laundress, DR Congo”
}
Her project “Being You” is Elena’s attempt to “get under the skin” of another person, placing herself in a setting familiar to them. “Not telling the viewer about the people whose lives I ‘lived,’ I allowed them, by looking at my self-portraits, to independently create an identity,” Elena says. It’s precisely that, in her view, that makes the viewer ponder on who these photos are about — her or her heroes.
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“alt”: “Elena Geroska 6”
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“alt”: “Elena Geroska 7”
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“alt”: “Elena Geroska 8”
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“alt”: “Elena Geroska 9”
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“alt”: “Elena Geroska 10”
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The theme of Reneta’s work is the life of Bulgarian youth. “I understand well how to communicate and work with them,” Reneta says. “But some things remain a riddle to me all the same.” Among her projects are photographs of students from graduating classes and a series of photos, Bango Vasil, about the celebration of Christmas Eve in Bulgaria. Now Reneta is working on the project x2 about young couples and how they express their feelings.
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“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 2”
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“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 3”
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“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 4”
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“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 5”
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/reneta_06.jpg”,
“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 6”
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/reneta_07.jpg”,
“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 7”
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/reneta_08.jpg”,
“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 8”
},
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“img”: “/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/reneta_09.jpg”,
“alt”: “Reneta Gancheva 9”
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